Ascent of Le Catogne on 2010-07-30

Ascent Trip Report

Great little hill overlooking Martigny. I got to Champex about 4.30pm after an early finish at work and reckoned I had just about time to climb the hill. Normally I'm not bothered about finishing in the dark (actually I used to often watch the sun set in Scotland, then walk back down the hill), but this time I had forgotten my head torch, so I set off at a good pace.

The path is well signposted and marked on the map so won't describe it except to say that there a lot of Chamois about and they made me feel hungry (tastiest beast in the Alps bar none!)

It was about 7.30 when I got to the top with the higher hills around clearing after a cloudy day. Mont Velan looked particularly nice standing guard above the Grand St Bernard pass to the south. I had seen not a single person, and wouldn't see one on the way back either. In the end I was a little after sunset (about 9.30) but still just light enough not to trip over roots in the forested section at the bottom.

This was my second attempt at Le Catogne. The previous one 2 summers ago had ended in a spectacular lightning storm that only a suicidal maniac would have continued to the top in. Glad I came back, nice hill. Later I found a music festival going on in Martigny so no problem getting a late tea. With good weather forecast, I then drove over to the trailhead for Point Percee, arriving about 2am.